Fish With Fingers Goes On Display At Science Museum

An amazing new fossil of a fish with fingers went on display in London today.

Scientists found the fossil in the Canadian Arctic, an icy desert plaice where they lived in 24 hour daylight, with sleety storms and hungry polar bears for company. Poor soles! We wonder whether they had any chance to relax and skate about in between fossil-hunting?

Here's the skull - the eye sockets are on top of the head, rather than on the sides like a fish. Can you see its sharp teeth?

© Jennie Hills / Science Museum

The scientist team didn't carp on about the hard work and and mussel ache though, and it was all worth it when they discovered the fossil, which is of a fish rather like an alligator, with legs, wrists, ribs and a neck. And even fish fingers!

Here you can see all the arm and shoulder bones.

© Jennie Hills / Science Museum

"We did a few high fives when we uncovered the fossil," said fossil hunting expert Neil. "But there's only so much celebrating you can do in the Arctic." The team were a week's journey from the nearest town at the time.

From there, they took it to the lab where it was carefully taken off the rock that was its perch for so long. Now, it's going to be on display at the Science Museum in London.

The fossil is in really good condition for something so old. These creatures lived about 383 million years ago!

That was the Devonian Period - also known as the 'age of fishes' because of the thousands of types of fish that developed then.

This discovery is extra special because it shows how animals that lived in the water became land creatures, and how they adapted so they could live on the land.

Image: Kalliopi Monoyios

So, don't flounder about looking for something to do this holiday! If you can get to the Science Museum you can see casts of the skull and fin, and find out for yourself what all the fuss is about.

And there's something else you can do too. Have you noticed anything strange about this story? Read it again and see how many 'fishy' words you can spot.

Now get in touch and tell us what they are. The first five of you to get the correct answers will win a mystery prize! Good luck!